That's when it hit me. What the heck where 4 butlers doing here? How are we going to pay?
"Oh kids I got a promotion at the bank." Dad said at the dinner table. "Vice President of Orlando Funds!" I spit out my coke all at once creating a mist of flying coke eventually it hitting Kyle. He didn't mind.
Get a grip Pete. I told myself. I tried to rethink our visit from start to finish. First; Mom Dies; We get a Big house; Unidentified freak attempts to abduct Kyle; Officially Booted from the county Library; and now living the life of enjoyment. I tried to enjoy myself but even I got suspicious sometimes. No matter how many times I tried to rethink it, it was never clear. The more things I tried to answer, the more questions I was receiving.
"Desert!" said Bridget. "You'll love this special recipe. 'Made it me' self." She placed a silver platter in front of me and dad. Dad removed the top. Freshly baked chocolate cake sat right in front of me. Now things were definitely freaking me out.
"Uh dad, can I be excused?"
I sat in my room trying to figure this entire thing out. The more I lay on the bed, the more I kept thinking. Still it never added up. Out of nowhere dad instantly becomes head of the bank? I just couldn't take it anymore! Then I thought why be so suspicious. I should have been thankful. How many other kids get their own serpents and have their dad bring home more money than they can count? From now I on I just learned to accept it. Things were really looking up for me.
"Back so soon?" Felecia asked. I sat back at my seat.
"Just needed some time to think." I replied Felecia smiled and shook her head.
"You're full of mysteries Pete. Full of 'em" I smiled at Felecia. We ate the cake down to one last piece. It was either Felecia or me that was going to get that piece. In a lost battle of Rock, Paper, Scissors, I lost and she ate that cake like a demon.
"Oh," dad said. "Our last maid is coming in late, she lives all the way in the woods and its quite a drive."
"I thought you said the maids and butlers were living here." When Felecia spoke those words I mentally panicked. I couldn't live in this house with that freak Lexingham and his psychotic brother Carlos. From now on, my bedroom door was to be locked.
"They are" dad said figures. "They'll be living right next to you and Pete." Better make those 2 Padlocks on my door. A bright white light shined through the windows then disappeared, followed by a soft rumble.
"Well" dad said. "She's here."
We walked out the door into the chilly fall night. A shiny black Roles Royce pulled up silently. The lights shut off like blinking eyes. Then I saw Dick in the distance running up with his lantern.
"I terribly sorry Mr. Jackson for being so rude." He said. "I should have met the helpers."
"Don't worry about it Dick" Dad said. "You're not too late. Here comes one now." The shinny door silently opened followed by a woman in a black jacket and black hair in a bun. She wore dark sunglasses and black lipstick. Even her stockings and shoes were black. I almost said aloud "whose funeral are you headed to?" Glad I didn't do it, I'd look like an Idiot. Her high heeled shoes clacked against the stone pathway.
"I apologize for being so late on my arrival." She spoke. Her voice was raspy and sharp. "I live all the way in the woods you know."
"That's perfectly okay ma'am. Better late than never" dad said. The woman smiled.
"I know I haven't perfectly introduced myself." She said. "My name is Leota. I called you earlier."
"Oh yes, I remember. Maybe we can do this somewhere inside where its warmer Ms. Leota?"
"Yes I would like that. Thank you."
There directly wasn't something right about her at all. I knew she meant trouble. I knew it all too well.
"So tell me about yourself Ms.Leota." dad asked.
"Well, I was born in New Orleans. I sereved a master under the name of...Warren. P.W. Warren. After he died I moved to Tampa Bay here in florida. I wanted something tropical for my temporary vacation. Then I moved here in the woods of this dreadful place."
"Well, I guess if you were really good with this warren character, I don't see why you'd let us down. You're in. Welcome to the Jackson Family Ms. Leota."
"Thank you. My pleasure." Many things were wrong here. "Ms. Leota" was no part of the Jackson Family. She would never be. Something was not right here. I knew that something was wrong. I knew it in my gut.